Water clock



. Dec. 23, 1924. 1,520,204

N. OPICH WATER CLOCK Filed June 11, 192s 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR WITNESS:

` WITNESS:

nec, 23, 1924. 1,520,204

N. OPICH WATER CLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES NICK OPICH, OF BENWOOD, WEST VIRGINIA.

TVATER CLGCK.

Application 1ed June 1v1, 1923.

T 0 all whom t may cof/wcm.'

Be it known that I, Nien Orion', a citizen of Austria, residing at Benwood, in the county of Marshall and State of T'Vest Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in later Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to horological instruments, and is priinaiily directed to a iiuid operated clock.

A further object is to produce a water operated clock of an extremely simple and cheaply constructed nature and which is primarily designed as an advertising device.

To the attainment of the foregoing and many other objects which will present themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood, reference is to be had to the drawings which accompany and which form part of this application.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a face view of a horological instrument embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a view taken at right angles to that illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 3*?) of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view looking toward the ratchet wheel and verge, parts being broken away and parts being in section.

Figure 5 is a substantially similar view but showing the verge swung to a different position from that illustrated in Figure 11.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the verge.

Figure 7 is a sectional view approximately on the line 7-7 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a top plan 'view of the gear train, parts being in section.

Figure 9 is a sectional view approxi-- mately on the line 9-9 of Figure S.

Figure 1() are views showing the different positions of the pallets and their engagement with the ratchet wheel.

It will be apparent as the nature of this invention progresses that the horological instrument may be regulated to keep true or improper time, the irregular running of the instrument being designed to attract attention when the instrument is employed exclusively for advertising purposes.

The instrument is primarily devised as an advertising medium regardless of the proper or irregular time indicated thereby, and in carrying out my invention I preferably construct a substantially rectangular Serial No. 644,672.

case which is broadly indicated, in the drawings, by the numeral 1. The case preferably has two of its opposite faces provided with substantially rectangular openings that are closed by transparent plates 2, and the opposite faces of the said case have thereon dials 3 indicating the hours and minutes.

'The top of the case may be closed or partly open, in the former event, the said case being provided with a suitable reinovable top, and in the case slightly above the lower edges of the dials 3 there are secured both lateral and longitudinal bars or cleats which are preferably supported on uprights et. Certain of the cleats also have secured thereon shorter uprights 5 and to the uprights 4 and 5 there are connected both longitudinal and transverse cleats. On these cleats there is supported a water reservoir 6. The reservoir has its mouth closed by a removable cover 7. The reservoir is filled at desired intervals with water, and the water therefrom is delivered through a port S into a. chamber 9 that is also supported upon the last mentioned cleats. The chamber 9 has a downwardly directed outlet pipe 10 whose passage is controlled by a valve 11. The pipe 10 delivers water against a substantially V-shaped flanged director 12, which is centrally arranged on a verge 13. ln the present instance, the verge is in the nature of a double trough, the compartments 14 and 15 of which being divided from each other by a central groove which passes transversely through the verge from the bottom thereof. The verge is centrally pivotally supported as at 13. This central, substantially U-shaped partition 16 carries the fluid directing element 12.

Below the verge there is supported upon the lower transverse and longitudinal cleats a basin 17. rThe bottom of the basin is substantially funnel-shaped and is provided with an angularly disposed outlet spout 13 designed to deliver water into a suitable receptacle 19 that is arranged in the case 1. The case, on one of its faces, is provided with an opening closed by a hinged door 20, suitable means being provided for holding the door in closed position.

Journaled in suitable bearings in the frame in the case 1 there are diametrically opposed hollow shafts 21 respectively. On each of the shafts 21 there is a gear 22 in mesh with a similar gear 23 on shafts 211 that are also suitably journaled in the frame in the case. On the shafts 21 therel are keyed comparatively large gears 25, which are in mesh with smaller gears 2G secured on shafts 27 that find bearings in the hollow shafts 21. The ratio of the gears 26 and 25 are approximately 12 to 1, that is the gears 25 carry sixty teeth, while the gears 26 carry but five. Thus the shafts 27 will be turned but once while the shafts 21 are turned twelve times.

Keyed on the confronting ends of the shafts 27 there are beveled gears 28 which are in mesh with a. beveled pinion 29. The pinion 29 is keyed on a shaft 30 that is journaled in suitable bearings, and the said shaft has secured thereon a ratchet wheel 31.

The shafts 21 and 27 project centrally through the dials 3 and carry respectively hour hands 32 and minute hands 33.

Secured to the outer end of the compartment 14 of the verge there is an arm 34.- of spring metal having its end toothed to provide a dog 35 to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 31. Also engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel there is a second dog 36 pivotally supported on a bracket 37 attached to the frame in the case 1. This dog prevents the turning of the ratchet wheel and consequently the turning of the shafts 21 and 27 in one direction. Pivotally secured to the spring arm 34 there is a second dog or pallet 38. This dog is designed to be swung to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 31 when irregular time is being kept by the clock. A clock keeping perceptible irregular time will necessarily attract attention, and the pallet or dog 38 is only thrown to operative position when such attention is required in order that people may observe the advertising matters which are inscribed on the different faces of the instrument. Also by providing the openings closed by the transparent plates a view of the working parts in the clock may be readily had by observers, and as such parts are not of the ordinary character, the same should attract attention.

The operation of the instrument may be briefly described as follows The tank 6 delivers water through the port 8 into the chamber 9. The valve 11 is regulated to permit of thc proper tlow of water through the pipe 10 on to the director 12 on the verge 13. Initially the water will be directed into the compartment 15 and when the weight of the water overhalances the verge, the water will flow from the said compartment 15 into the basin. The verge is then tilted to the position illustrated in Figure 5. A certain quantity of the water from the pipe 10 will be directed into the compartment 14 which, however, has its bottom provided with an opening 39. Because of the spring arm 34 and the dogs or pallets carried thereby, the end of the verge provided with the compartment 11 is heavier than that provided with the comlmrtment 15, but the additional water in the compartment let (which, of course, finds an outlet through the opening 39) serves to tilt the verge in an opposite direction and to move the ratchet wheel 31 a distance equalling the length of one of its teeth. The downward movement of the verge in the direction illustrated in Figure 4; is limited by the contact of the lower wall of the compartment 14 with an adjustable element 4() arranged on the upper wall of the basin to one side of its funnel-like outlet.

It is believed that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawings, will fully set forth the simplicity of the construction, its operation and novelty, but it is to be understood that I do not wish to be restricted to the precise details of construction herein set forth and hold myself entitled to all such changes therefrom as justly fall within the scope of what I claim.

I-Iaving described the invention, I claim z- 1. In a clock, the combination with a ratchet wheel, a train of gears operated thereby and hands actuated by said wheel, of a pivotally supported verge centrally divided into two trough-like con'ipartments, one of which having an opening therethrough, a pallet carrying arm on the verge for engaging the ratchet wheel, and means for preventing the turning of the ratchet wheel in one direction, and means for delivering a fluid alternately into the compartments of the verge for actuating the ratchet wheel.

2. In a clock, the combination with a ratchet wheel, means holding the same from turning in one direction, a train of gears operated by the turning of the ratchet wheel, and hands actuated by the gears, of a verge comprising a swingable member which is centrally divided into two cinnpartmcnts, one of which having an opening therethrough, a spring arm secured to one end of the verge carrying a pallet, to engage the ratchet wheel, means for alternately directing water into the compartn'lents ot the verge to tilt the latter in two directions to operate the ratchet wheel, and means below the compartment having an opening for limitingr the movement of the verge in such direction.

3. In a clock, the. coml'iination with a ratchet wheel, means holding the same from turning in one direction, a train of gears operated by the turning of the escapement wheel, and minute and hour hands actuated by said wheels, of a verge con'lprising a pivotally supported member centrally divided into two trough-like compartments, one of which having an opening therethrough, a fluid directing element at the lll) center of the verge, a spring pallet carrying arm on the verge and engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel, means for delivering a fluid on to the directing element of the verge to cause such water to be alternately delivered into the compartments of the verge to impart a swinging motion thereto and to intluence the pallet carrying arm to turn the ratchet wheel.

4i. in a clock, a rachet wheel having means for preventing 'the turning thereo'lI in one direction, a train of gears operated by the wheel, and hour and munite hands actuated by the gears, ot a centrally pivoted verge divided into two compartments, the lower walls ot which being disposed angularly and one ot said walls being provided with an opening, a spring` arm secured to the verge having a pallet on its tree end to engage the teeth ot the ratchet wheel, a dog pivotally secured on said arm swingable to engagement with the teeth of the said ratchet wheel, and means tor alternately delivering a tluid into the compartments of the verge to impart a swinging movement thereto, to actuate the ratchet wheel and gears.

5. In a clock, a ratchet wheel having` means for preventing the turning thereor in one direction, a train oit gears operated by the ratchet wheel, and hour and minute hands actuated by the gears, of a centrally pivoted verge divided into opposed compartments, one ot which having an opening therethrough, a substantiallyT inverted h shaped flanged directing member at the center ot' the verge, a spring arm secured to oneend ot the verge, a pallet on the end ot said arm engageable with the teeth ot the ratchet wheel, a compartively short dog pivotally secured on the arm and swingable to engagement with the teeth ot the said ratchet wheel, and means for directing a fluid on to the directing element of the verge into lirst one of the verge compartments and thereafter into the second verge compartment to impart a swinging movement to the verge to actuate trie ratchet wheel and gears,

6. In a clock, a ratchet wheel and means for holding the same from turning in one direction, gears operated by the rat-cnet wheel, and hour and minute hands actuated by said gears, oi a verge comprising a centrally pivoted member divided into opposed compartments, one of which having an opening therethrough, a spring arm on one end ot the verge having a pallet to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel, a water tank above the ratchet wheel, a chamber into which said tank delivers, a valved outlet pipe for the chamber disposed above the center ont the verge and designed to deliver water into one ot the verge compartments to tilt the verge in one direction and thereafter deliver water into the other compartment to tilt the verge in an opposite direction to actuate the ratchet wheel and gears, and a trough having a tunnel-shaped end receiving the water 'from the verge compartments.

T. An advertising clock, comprising a casing having dials on two oit its opposed faces and having sight openings on its remaining faces, a ratchet wheel iournaled in the case, gears operated thereby, shafts for said wheels projecting centrally through the dials and carrying respectively hour and minute hands, a water tank supported adjacent to the top ot the case, a compartment into which the water from the tank is delivered, a valved outlet l'or the compartment, a verge centrally pivoted below the outlet pipe, said verge comprising a member which is centrally divided into two compartments, an inverted substantially cross sectionally flanged t-shaped water directing member at Vthe center ot the verge, said verge having one of its con'ipartments provided with an opening, a spring arm on the verge having a pellet to engage the teeth ot the ratchet wheel, a swingable doe' on the arm also engagcable with the teeth or' said ratchet wheel, a trough to receive water from the compartments ot the verge when the latter is tilted by the weight thereof in opposite directions to actuate the ratchet wheel and gears, said trough having a 'tunnel-like outlet and a container in the case disposed below said outlet.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

NICK OPIGH. 

